Spirit-level.



G. H. STAMM. SPIRIT LEVEL. APPLICATION FILED MAB.16, 1909.

967,258. I Patented Aug. 16,1910.

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CHARLES H. STAIVIM, 0F KOKOIVIO, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 JOHN H.

PANABAKER, OF KOKOMO, INDIANA.

SPIRIT-LEVEL;

To all whom "it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. STAMM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kokomo, in the county of Howard and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Spirit-Level, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to spirit levels.

The object of the invention is to provide a novel implement of this character, adapted, without inconvenience, to be worn on the hand of the user while working, and which shall be thoroughly effective in both leveling and plumbing different kinds of work, such as brickwork, masonry, and the raising of corners on buildings and topping of fines. Furthermore to adapt the implement to be adjusted to fit fingers of any size, and thus obviate the necessity of constructing the article in a large number of sizes. Furthermore, to adapt the implement to be carried. in the pocket of the user, whereby it will always be within convenient reach when needed.

With the above and other objects in view, as will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction and combination of parts of a spirit level, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts: Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a human hand, showing the level of the present invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation, partly in section of the level, the leveling position of the spirit tube being shown in full lines, and its plumbing position in dotted lines.

The instrument comprises a stock or work engaging member 1, a ring 2, a base 3, a spirit tube carrier 4, and a spirit tube 5. The stock is constructed from a length of metal, preferably tempered steel, and the ring is disposed nearer one end than the other thereof, to cause it to project equally from each side of the hand, it being seen that where the ring is worn upon the center or middle finger of the left hand, the stock will have to have more metal on its lefthand end than on its right-hand end. The

ring 2 may be integral with the stock, or brazed or otherwise secured thereto, and is secured between two downward-extend1ng Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 16, 1909.

Patented Aug. 16, 1910. Serial No. 483,733.

bosses or lugs 6 carried by the base, and is held firmly against movement relatively thereto by a rivet 7. In order to prevent any possibility of disconnection between the ring and the base, the parts may be brazed together in addition to being riveted as shown, or the base and ring may be integral.

The tube carrier 4 consists of a length of metal, having upturned ends 8, which, as shown in Fig. 1, are channel-shaped in cross section, in order to receive a body of cement 9 by which the tube is secured in place. The tube carrier is pivotally mounted between a pair of lugs 10 carried by the base adjacent to one end thereof, and receiving the ends of the rivet 11 by which the tube carrier is held in position.

In order to hold the tube carrier in leveling position as shown in full lines in Fig. 2, or in plumbing position as shown by dotted lines in the same figure, two spring catches l2 and 13 are provided, the former of which is secured to the outer end wall of one of the tube carrier members 8, and the other to the inner wall of the other tube carrier member and projects over the top wall thereof. These catchers are provided at their free ends with lips 14. and 15 respectively which are designed to spring around the ends of the stock, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, and thus hold the tube in the desired adjustment. The means for adjusting the ring to different fingers consists of a split liner 16 which is held within the ring 2 in any preferred manner, and is provided at its lower portion with two lugs 17 that are engaged by screws 18, by adjusting which the sides of the liner may be extended or contracted to cause it to fit the finger of the user with a proper degree of tightness.

In using the instrument, it is generally secured upon the middle finger of the left hand, thus leaving the operators thumb free for use in adjusting a brick or a stone, as the case may be. Owing to the fact that the device is comparatively small, it will not prove cumbersome in use, nor will it interfere with the workman in setting bricks or the like. As the spirit tube will always be on the back of the hand, the danger of breakage will be reduced to the minimum.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the class described, a stock, a ring upon the stock at a point be tween the ends thereof, a liner mounted in the ring, means for adjusting the liner to various diameters, and a spirit tube supported upon the ring.

2. In a device of the class described a stock, a finger-engaging ring upon the stock between the ends thereof, a support carried rigidly by the ring, and a spirit tube holder pivoted to the support and adapted to lie thereagainst or to extend at right angles therefrom.

3. In a device of the class described, a stock, a finger-engaging ring upon the stock between its ends, a support rigidly mounted upon the finger ring in parallelism with respect to the stock, a spirit tube holder pivoted upon the support, a spirit tube mounted in the holder, the said holder being adapted to be positioned against the support or to extend at right angles therefrom upon bein swung upon its pivot, and resilient means at each end of the holder adapted to engage with one end or the other of the support, whereby to hold the holder in one or the other of the stated positions.

4. A device of the class described comprising a relatively long and narrow stock iaving a plane underside, a finger receiving ring rigid with the upper side of the said stock, the said ring having its axis at right angles to the longitudinal median line of the stock, and a spirit tube rigidly mounted upon the upper side of the ring, and arranged to indicate when the underside of the stock is horizontal.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES H. STAMM.

\Vitnesses JOHN R. MoINTosH, JOHN I'IARBAUGH. 

